Alaska Rural Veterinary Outreach (ARVO) Inc. will be in Cordova this weekend to provide services to the community’s furry friends, and there are still appointments available.
ARVO aims to care for all of Alaska’s companion animals, regardless of how far they live from larger communities with more access to veterinary care. Professionals travel to underserved areas of the state to set up rural clinics in schools, community buildings or other public facilities – and sometimes even aids in sending sick or injured pets to Anchorage for more acute care.
The Anchorage-based clinic, which will be in Cordova Friday through Sunday, is set to offer an array of different services – ranging from spay and neuter procedures to vaccination administration and medication prescriptions.
“This is the first time ARVO has been to Cordova and we couldn’t be more excited,” ARVO Operations Manager Lori Kauffman told The Cordova Times via email.
She said ARVO has approximately 40 appointments scheduled but that more are still available. Kauffman also confirmed that the clinic will accept walk-ins as veterinarians or technicians are available. For a surgical procedure walk-in, she said the pet cannot eat at least 10 hours prior to surgery.
Alaska Rural Veterinary Outreach services
| Dog spay $140 | Rabies vaccine $10 |
| Dog neuter $135 | Parvo-distemper vaccine $0 |
| Cat spay $120 | Deworming $10-$20 |
| Cat neuter $70 | Nail trim with exam $10 |
| Wellness exam $45 | Humane euthanasia $50 |
Cordova hasn’t had a local full-time veterinary clinic in years, so residents rely on visiting clinics for pet wellness.
The city had a full-time practice – Waterways Veterinary Clinic – but it moved to Petersburg when it absorbed another clinic there. However, Waterways still does occasional appointments in Cordova when vets can travel here.
Mayor Kristin Smith said these visiting clinics are essential especially in Cordova, a place where she says there are at least as many dogs as people at any given outdoor event. Smith said she actually made an appointment with another visiting clinic – Trail Breaker Veterinary Services – to have a mass removed from her dog’s mouth last year.
Another big issue, she said, is the lack of euthanasia services. Right now, one of the only options is to take an expensive ferry to a neighboring clinic to put a pet down.
“If they age and get sick it’s a real dilemma,” Smith said. “It’s really tough.”
And when it comes to growing a furry family, she says some people think twice because of the lack of veterinary services.
“I’ve heard people say that they’re hesitant to get another pet,” she said.
The city of Cordova has committed $1,500 for ARVO’s visit, and the Cordova Community Foundation committed another $1,500, according to Smith. The nonprofit Friends of Valdez Animal Shelter, which donated another $3,000, has also been working with ARVO and the city of Cordova to secure the visit. The money will be used mostly for the clinic’s travel and lodging expenses.
“We are beyond thrilled to be invited by the wonderful community of Cordova and by The Friends of the Valdez Animal Shelter’s support to host such a clinic,” Kauffman said.
ARVO will be in Cordova from June 20-22 at 308 Orca Inlet Drive starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, then all day Saturday, then on Sunday morning.
For a full list of services or to request a veterinary appointment, visit www.akrvo.org/.
